How to Know When to Change Sheets on a Murphy Bed

The right time to change the sheets on a murphy bed is after someone has used it and another person will be sleeping on it, or before you secure it in the storage position for an extended period of time.  But that isn’t the only time to change the sheets as pets, sitting spaces, and the weather could impact the sanitary levels of the sheets.  Sometimes you may not want to have sheets stored at all on your Murphy bed if it won’t be in use regularly.

We break down common situations from vacation homes and humid regions, to guest bedrooms and for regular use in apartment living below to help you know when it’s time to wash or change the sheets on your murphy bed.

For Vacation Homes and Humid Regions

If you live in an area with humidity like a beach town and have a rental unit or vacation home, even though the murphy bed may not have been used all winter, the humidity can lead to mold and mildew as well as create a musky smell.  You’ll want to wash and dry the sheets for your murphy bed before placing it into the storage position and wash them again as you’re ready to use the bed.

As the Smithsonian Institute points out, areas with high humidity and warm temperatures without proper ventilation (like a murphy bed stored in a cabinet) can encourage mold growth on cotton and linen.  So if you lifted the bed to the storage position at the end of the season, it could be a breeding ground all winter.

Regular Use

If the murphy bed is used as your primary bed, wash or change the sheets the same as any other bed about once a week.  There is no set rule of thumb for washing your sheets as pets, not showering before bed, and other factors can play into the frequency needed.

With Pets that Sleep on the Bed

If you have indoor pets they can track debris from litter boxes or accidentally leave droppings on the sheets as they jump on and off the murphy bed.  And their dander will collect on the fabrics, so you’ll want to change the sheets a couple times each week.  

For outdoor pets that sleep in the murphy bed with you, change them a couple to a few times each week as the added elements they bring in can harbor fungal organisms and lead to skin infections or ringworm.  You don’t have stop them from sleeping in your murphy bed with you, because they are amazing nighttime companions, just wash your sheets a bit more often.

When You Sweat in Your Sleep or Don’t Shower Before Bed

Skin cells and saliva can lead to bacteria growth, and so can sweat.  If you don’t wash your sheets and pillow cases at least once a week they become a harbor for bacteria growth.  Hair products can also lead to the fabrics collecting debris.

Our bodies carry staphylococcus naturally (roughly 30% of us), and if there is a build up on your pillow case because you’re not washing before bed or your bed sheets and pillow cases enough, it has been shown to increase the likelihood of acne breakouts.

If Used for Sitting and Non-Sleep Activities

If you use your murphy bed to study on, or have snacks and drinks while watching tv, change your sheets a couple times each week.  In addition to bringing outside debris in like in the pets example above, the crumbs can attract bugs, pests, and grow bacteria.  This is in addition to the bacteria we naturally carry on our bodies.

Guest Rooms and Occasional Use

For guest rooms and occasional use a best practice is to change the sheets before each usage, especially if they’ve been stored for a month or longer.  If you live in an area with humidity, it could be a good idea to store the sheets over the mattress if you don’t have a mattress protector when in the raised position, but make sure they’re dry first.

If they’re even a bit damp, mold and mildew can accumulate.  Once you lower the murphy bed or unfold it from the cabinet you’ll want to change the sheets or wash them before the next person uses them.  This way anything that accumulated or colonized while it was being stored gets cleaned.

It is a best practice to wash the sheets on your murphy bed once a week if it is your primary bed, and before each new guest uses it when your murphy bed is for short term guests or as part of a rental property.